The Tasting Panel magazine

June 2015

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june 2015 / the tasting panel / 39
"Sacha named this wine for the two cherubs that hang in
the estate's private chapel," said Allen, who shares a long-time
friendship with family patriarch Alexis Lichine. All of the
d'Esclans wines are based on an old-vine Grenache/Rolle blend
and Whispering Angel includes a smattering of Syrah, Tibouren
and Cinsault. Fruit is protected by dry ice pellets during transport
to the winery, optically sorted and scrupulously temperature-
controlled during fermentation with the reserve wines aging on
the lees in barrel for a year.
Lichine purchased Château d'Esclans, a property which dates
to the early 13th century, in 2006 and that same vintage fermented
a rosé wine in large-format new French oak. The result is the
winery's cult-status Garrus, which is often compared to a white
Burgundy or prestige Champagne. The 2013 Garrus rosé was
the palest pink with yuzu, pineapple and baking spices wrapped
around a core of precise minerality. Single-barrel bottling enables
the production of four different wines: Garrus and Les Clans, the
estate's reserve wines, Château d'Esclans and Whispering Angel,
created to appeal to a broader market.
Debbie Zachareas, owner and partner at Ferry Plaza Wine
Merchant, has seen high demand for the Château d'Esclans wines
at her stores, and through the experiences, she curates for the
luxury gifting site www.IfOnly.com.
As consumption of rosé wines in the U.S. grows, consumers
are trading up and prices are following suit. With a wave of new
bottlings being created expressly for the active ultra-premium
category entering the market, it's a good time to take stock of
rosé producer Château d'Esclans, the Côtes de Provence quality
leader that is destined to maintain a steady presence in the upper
echelons.
Château d'Esclans representative Jim Allen
with wine.com's Mike Osborn, founder, VP
Merchandising, and Gwendolyn Osborn,
Director of Education and Content.
Fred Dame, MS—VP of Prestige Accounts for
American Wine & Spirits (a division of SW&S
CA)—welcomes Chef Roland Passot (middle),
owner of La Folie, and Chef Gerald Hirigoyen,
who is owner of Piperade.
Kim Beto (left), VP Key Accounts, Southern
Wine & Spirits, and Marcus Garcia, General
Manager/Wine Director at French Club in
San Francisco.
Fred Dame handing
Tara Patrick, Sommelier
at Quince, her magnum
of Garrus rosé, which
she won during the
tasting.